Only conduct (politeuomai, po-lē-tyü’-o-mī) yourselves [politic yourselves] as citizens in civic affairs in a manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm, united in one spirit and purpose, with one mind, striving together side by side and contending (synethleo) with a single mind for the faith of the gospel … .  Phil. 1:27

Synethleo (sün-ä-thle’-ō) – From syn (with) and athleo (athlete, to engage in a contest, contend in public games, contend for a prize, to endure, to suffer)

Literally, to be athletes together, teammates or soldier mates.  Coworkers.

E.g., Syntech and Euodia who contended with Paul for the sake of the Gospel.

United.  One spirit – pneuma – one breath.  One purpose.  One mind – psyche.  Striving together.  Side by side.

The call is collective.  Conduct yourselves – plural.

The Christian work is not to be done in isolation.

The call is to be working side by side, shoulder to shoulder.

And not just in the Church.  But specifically in civic, civil affairs.

Politeuomai is to be a citizen, to administer civil affairs, to make or create a citizen, to be or behave as a citizen.

Paul expects the Philippians to be visible and active participants in public, civil affairs.  Paul is writing while imprisoned in a government jail.  He tells the Philippians to expect persecution from the civic authorities.  This makes sense only if the Philippians are visible in the public square.

We are called to be active civically, and to do so collectively.

A literal paraphrase:  Politic yourselves in the public, civil arena, in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, as athletes together, with one spirit, one breath, one psyche.

How do we live this out?

• What is conduct – politic – that is worthy of the gospel?
• How do we stand firm united, in one spirit and one psyche?
• How do we synethleo – co-athlete together?